Story Archive

Funny Criminals

Frank Salvador Solorza, 46, of Redwood City, Calif., has been sentenced to three years in prison for impersonating a federal immigration agent. As part of an extortion scheme against six of his cousins, Solorza sent letters accusing his relatives of lying on their applications for permanent U.S. residency. He then told them that for $50,000, “your papers will be good forever.” He then gave instructions to one cousin to hand over the money, telling him that a man in a clown suit and riding a bicycle would be coming to pick up the cash. Sure enough, Solorza showed up riding a child’s bicycle and dressed in a clown suit, a clown glitter wig, and a Pirates of the Caribbean hat — complete with dreadlocks. When police arrested Solorza, he had the cell phone he used to make follow-up calls to his cousins, and a receipt from the House of Humor costume store. (MS/San Francisco Chronicle) ...They then took him to jail in a very, very small car.

Publication Date: 22 May 2011This story is in True’sbook collection, Volume 17.

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